blog
July 12, 2022

How to get your audience to listen

Whether you’re having a one-on-one or giving a large business presentation, here's how you can get people to listen better while you present.
“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.”
–Ernest Hemingway, American novelist

Sound is very powerful. It can increase sales, customer satisfaction, brand value, and much more. By understanding how sound affects us physiologically, emotionally, cognitively, and behaviorally, we can better understand how leveraging it correctly can hook our audiences.

Image source

Whether you’re having a one-on-one conversation with a colleague or giving a large business presentation, there are techniques to get people to listen better when we present.

Author and TED Talks speaker Julian Treasure couldn’t agree more. In Episode 21 of Think Deeply, Speak Simply, Julian shared that everyone listens differently, and sharpening your own listening skills can do wonders for winning your audience over. Here are his top two recommendations to inspire better listening.

Use the "HAIL" acronym

It’s never too late to win back your audience. In fact, Julian has discovered the four foundations of effective communication that will prevent you from losing them in the first place. 

  • H → HONESTY: Honesty is the best policy when it comes to public speaking. Throughout your presentation, remain clear and truthful at all times.
  • A → AUTHENTICITY: Be sure to show your listeners your true self through your words, voice, message, and body language.
  • I → INTEGRITY: Displaying integrity to your listeners will significantly boost your credibility, trustworthiness, and leadership capabilities.
  • L → LOVE: Never stop wishing people well and putting your audience’s needs and interests first.

If you get lost during your presentation, don’t be afraid to own up to it. Lean on the Honesty and Authenticity pillars by taking a moment to apologize and gather yourself. Memory lapses happen to everyone and owning yours will help humanize you and boost your reliability.

Listen consciously

Don’t forget to practice what you preach. If you want to inspire your audience to be better listeners, remember to exercise the muscle yourself. Listening takes work and it is constantly under threat. The world is riddled with plenty of noise and distractions battling for your attention. Refine your skills by recording yourself, seeking out coaching resources, and practicing often. Listening is how we learn, lead, innovate, and inspire.

Recognize that conscious listening is something you do, not just a natural capability people are born with. It will take time, effort, persistence, and patience to become a master. Take it seriously and acknowledge it as a huge advantage in life, relationships, business, and more. As a leader, you owe it to yourself and your audience to become a master at the instrument of the human voice.

Leverage these techniques to keep your audience captivated and strengthen your communication skills. You can listen to the complete Julian Treasure episode here.

Ready to create impactful presentations?

Try for free

Related resources

BLOG
Supriya Sarkar
October 17, 2025
How enterprise teams create brand-consistent, AI-powered presentations with Prezent
Learn how Prezent helps enterprise teams in creating brand-consistent, AI-powered presentations 90% faster.
BLOG
Supriya Sarkar
October 16, 2025
Prezi vs PowerPoint: Finding the right presentation tool for enterprises
Compare Prezi and PowerPoint for enterprise presentation needs—and discover a modern alternative that brings speed, branding, and AI efficiency together.
BLOG
Bharti Jain
October 14, 2025
How to build a presentation in 20 minutes or less (Even if you hate PowerPoint)
Create professional, on-brand presentations in under 20 minutes with Prezent Lite, AI-powered design, storytelling, and formatting made simple.
BLOG
Rajat Mishra
October 13, 2025
Why we acquired Prezentium — and where Prezent AI is headed next
Prezent AI acquires Prezentium to build the first all-in-one AI + human business communication platform, now valued at $400M.
BLOG
Supriya Sarkar
October 10, 2025
Data storytelling: How to make your data presentations unforgettable
Master data storytelling to turn complex data into presentations that engage, inform, and drive action.
BLOG
Bharti Jain
September 29, 2025
Meet Prezent Lite: Smart AI presentation tool for small teams and individual professionals
Prezent Lite helps small teams and professionals create stunning, on-brand presentations with AI. Faster, smarter, and always aligned with your storytelling needs.
BLOG
Supriya Sarkar
September 23, 2025
The hidden power of whitespace: Why pausing can transform work and communication
Discover how whitespace boosts clarity, sparks creativity, and strengthens communication in today’s fast-paced work culture.
BLOG
Bharti Jain
September 17, 2025
Top 8 manufacturing AI software solutions for smarter operations
Explore 8 top manufacturing AI software solutions that improve operations, reporting, and productivity across the factory floor and leadership teams.
BLOG
Supriya Sarkar
September 16, 2025
From prep to delivery: 6 expert-backed steps that make presentations land
Master 6 stages of business presentations with expert strategies. Learn to create and deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impact.
BLOG
Sahul Hameed
September 15, 2025
The growing influence of AI presentation makers in shaping business communication
Discover how AI presentation makers are transforming business communication with speed, clarity, and brand consistency while boosting engagement.
BLOG
Supriya Sarkar
September 15, 2025
8 Best internal communication tools for your company
Discover 8 internal communication tools and platforms to simplify updates, boost collaboration, and strengthen your internal communication strategy.
BLOG
Bharti Jain
September 10, 2025
Turn slides into scenes: Kindra Hall on stories that sell, lead, and stick
Kindra Hall joins Rajat Mishra on Think Deeply, Speak Simply to share how storytelling can drive business impact, leadership, and lasting influence.